Bodie's last straw.
Bodie had rolled his eyes at me in answer to Cowley's glib comment and stalked off passed me. I run to catch up with him.
"Hey, you alright?" I ask bemused, as my partner gets into the car and slams the door.
"You know a bit of gratitude wouldn't hurt now and again," he shouts angrily.
"We risk our lives to stop some bloody nutcase from blowing us all to kingdom come and all he can say is ' you're out of breath, 3-7'" He mimics Cowley's Scottish accent.
"I don't think he meant anything by it. You know Cowley, he's not one for praise."
Bodie's eyes meet mine and I smile. "If it helps I thought you were brilliant!"
I watch the anger seep from him as fast as it had filled him and he grins back at me.
"You weren't so bad yourself." he says.
"Who needs Cowley!"
"Yeah! Who needs Cowley!"
"I'll go and find out if we can go" I tell him.
"Cheers, mate."
George Cowley is barking out orders to waiting soldiers but when he sees me he moves swiftly towards me. "What's wrong with Bodie?" he asks, gesturing towards the car where Bodie sits.
"I think you've upset him, Sir."
"Upset him?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Since when did he get so sensitive?"
"Since he came up with a bloody good plan and risked his life in carrying it out to a reasonable conclusion….Sir." I pause. "Anyway, if you've finished with us….."
"Yes, yes, get yourselves off." he says thoughtfully, glancing over to the car again.
"Oh, on second thoughts Doyle, can you both wait in the car for a couple of minutes while I finish up here?"
"Sir." I turn on my heels and head back to Bodie.
"Well? Can we go?" he asks, his hand moving over the key to start the engine.
"No, he wants us to wait for him for a few minutes." I tell him leaning against the car. Bodie is exasperated. "Oh what does the old man want now!"
"Put us both on a physical training exercise I shouldn't wonder."
"Don't even joke about it. The last time it nearly killed me."
"Yeah, Cowley could see that." I grin at him and turn to see Cowley coming towards us. "Look out, he's on his way."
Cowley glances into the car at Bodie and then looks at me. "Ah, Doyle, Bodie. You both did very well today, very well indeed. I think this calls for a drink or two don't you?"
"Yes, Sir," we both chorus and there's an edge of delight in Bodie's voice.
"Right, well get yourselves over to the club. Tell them I'll be along shortly and get yourselves a Scotch each. Just the one mind, til I get there."
"Yes, Sir, thank you Sir."
As he turns and walks away from us I lean into the car. "You see, I knew he loved us really."
"The club eh? Come on get in. If he thinks I'm stopping at one drink before he gets there after what we've done today he's got another thing coming. I'm going to see if I can wangle us a couple of Scotch's each."
"Bodie! He'll kill us!"
"Get in. Live dangerously!"
I smile as his eyes glitter with mischief and he starts the car. " I do that all the time, mate." I tell him softly. "All the time."